Rat-L-Trap Adventure . . . Stolen By Bass

[greatone1210]

So I went out today and picked myself up a nice Abu Garcia spinning combo (7' Med Fast) and put some 10 lb fluorocarbon on it. I used a 1/4 oz Lectric Bleeding Shad Rat-L-Trap and on my third cast from shore, caught a nice 12 inch largemouth. First time I have ever caught anything on a crank. I was excited. Little bit later, caught a 8 inch smallmouth. Still pretty cool.

Later walked over to where some others were fishing and positioned my self on the opposite side. Said they hadn't caught a darn thing all day. Fourth or fifth cast with same lure and I hook a real nice bass, looks to be close to 14 inches or so. These guys can't believe it. Well I am trying to get this lunker in and my line snaps, fish takes off with my lure. I don't understand?

So my question is, what did I do wrong? Do I need a different line? Baitcaster? I used a palomar knot so I know it was secured well.

Any thoughts? I know I will be picking up some more Rat-L-Traps. These things are great.

[Stouty]

I have ran Into this probably, check your line after every fish for nicks, check your drag, fish could take drag but not to much where they can feel it and your hook doesn't slip, also make your knots nice and wet when tying and re tie every 5 or so fish or whatever your comfortable with.

[Arv]

What brand fluoro were you using? I know a lot of guys dont use palomar knots with fluoro because it might compromise the line strength.

[zachb34]

It's the knot on flouro I use a San Diego jam knot I think it is and works flawlessly and is super easy to tie

[BassinMD]

Odds are you broke off at the knot the palomar knot conches down on itself and hard bends in flouro snap easily as it is a stiff line. Try the sandiego jam or even uni knot and you Gould be just fine

Tight lines !

[cody161]

San Diego Jam with Flouro and no problems here. If you have an iPhone download the app Knot Wars, it is very helpful.

[SirSnookalot]

If the knot was tied properly in the first place (a bad knot may hold a few fish for awhile), and if the line was free from any kind of abrasion, no 14" fish is going to break 10# line. When it comes to freshwater, I'm lazy, I don't change my leaders very often and use the same knots for days and sometimes weeks, my knots and lines do not break, and I use nothing but a clinch knot.

B/C gear is not needed, I don't even own one. No question that b/c are very popular, but the question is need, for me it's not needed.

[Scorcher214]

Could be a number of things, bad knot, could have been some knicks in the line, the fish may have inhaled it an had some sharper teeth. There's been a handful of bass that I go to lip and get really tore up due to there teeth. Feels like I'm trying to lip a walleye.

And I'm in the same boat as SirSnookalot, I don't retire very often and am very bad about checking for abrasion on my line. I use the clinch knot about 98% of the time (the other times I use a palomar because I don't know why, I have a lot of trouble tying it lol). But it's a good habit to get into, retieing and checking your line. I gotta start doin it though, lost about a 3lb smallie yesterday :'(

[smalljaw67]

Go to *** and look through the videos, they have one on tying a palomar knot with flouro because that is what broke, I use that knot and I have had problems using flouro with it, and one of the reasons I don't use flouro anymore.

[MarkH024]

Go to *** and look through the videos, they have one on tying a palomar knot with flouro because that is what broke, I use that knot and I have had problems using flouro with it, and one of the reasons I don't use flouro anymore.

I also use the palomar knot on my FC ties, and never have had an issue. Chances are it was a bad knot tie. Also...some fluoros are better than others from my personal experience. I like Vicous and Bass Pro XPS. I have had terrible experiences with Berkley 100%.

[ClackerBuzz]

how long have you been tying with fluoro? it's def more brittle than mono. spend sometime at night tying and retying till you get ur knot and line perfect/smooth. use a jig that is easy to grip and pull till you break it. it will let you know how your doing and build confidence especially if ur line breaks 10" above the knot. you should never have a burn/warped/crinkle line no matter which knot you choose. i also use the san diego jam for fluoro. pull 6" thru the eye first....then pass the 6" tag thru the eye a second time. do not insert 1" and try to drag the remaining doubled over line the remaining 5". keep the double line wrap around the eye nice and tight while ur finishing the knot. i don't like the palomar b/c it creates too much opportunity for heating up the line. good luck